Every so often I come across a song that ministers to me deeply. I don’t know what the Lord uses to speak to you intimately, but besides His Word, for me, it’s music. It is very easy for me to recall songs from different seasons that carried me, and more often than not, they were actually words from scripture put to song. I like that a lot.
I remember being really into Shane and Shane’s Psalm CD my first year of college without realizing the songs were all actual Psalms. I know, label me flakey. Anyway, it wasn’t rare that I would come across a Psalm and suddenly realize I already had the whole thing memorized because I’d been singing it for years. Things like that make me so happy.
A couple months ago Audrey Assad came out with a new CD that I immediately fell in love with. (If you’ve not heard any of her music, you’re missing out on an angelic blessing.) Two songs in particular I played over and over and over again and, to this day haven’t grown weary of them. In fact, the more I listen to them the more they make my heart swell. It’s these two songs that I’ve listened to in some dark and lonely moments that have brought me back to the goodness of who God is.
The first song I heard off of that CD and clung to for dear life was Good To Me.
I’ll pause and give you a minute to go download it on iTunes. (I promise you won’t be disappointed. And if you are, let me know and I’ll pay you back that 0.99 cents.)
Side note: I just realized you are able to listen and download the song here. You’re welcome. (And that’s straight from Audrey’s website, in case you are skeptical of that.)
And if you needed any more convincing, here are the lyrics. Let them soak into your soul.
I put all my hope in the truth of Your promise
And I steady my heart on the ground of Your goodness
When I’m bowed down with sorrow I will lift up Your name
And the foxes in the vineyard will not steal my joy
Because You are good to me, good to me
I lift up my eyes to the hills where my help is found
Your voice fills the night – raise my head up to hear the sound
Though fires burn all around me I will praise You, my God
And the foxes in the vineyard will not steal my joy
Because You are good to me, good to me
Your goodness and mercy shall follow me
All my life
I will trust in Your promise
I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that it took me one listen to fall completely in love with this song, but I’ll readily admit that although I could pinpoint the obvious scripture references, I was confused by the foxes in the vineyard stealing my joy.
Some of you might immediately recall that reference, but me? Not so much. If you’re anything like me, you appreciate song lyrics, but more than that, you want to know what they mean and what you’re singing, so I looked it up.
And that’s when I came across this word picture:
“Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes, that ruin the vineyards–for our vineyard is in bloom.” Song of Songs 2:15 (NET)
Since Song of Songs isn’t my go-to book these days, it’s no surprise that I found that reference hidden in there. I don’t pretend to be a scholar and am certain I’ll never be labeled as one, but I have to believe that although I’m not married, because this is found in scriptures, it applies to me just as much as it would apply to anyone.
Because those foxes? They represent all the little hindrances and obstacles that threaten to sabotage my relationship with Christ. They restrain, restrict and put up barriers between Jesus and me. I can only imagine the foxes that sneak up on marriages. Or relationships. Or families. Or neighborhoods. Or churches, for heaven’s sake!
Jealousy, envy, discord, anger, bitterness, insecurity, anxiety, lust, discouragement, hatred and the list could go on and on.
If we don’t continually nip them in the bud, the foxes will seek to spoil the growing fruitful vineyards.
What are your foxes? Last week I sat down, and besides the obvious circumstances I can’t control that threaten to steal my joy (and oftentimes they do), I listed out each of the foxes I’ve let in my vineyard. The things I do have control over because of Christ in me. It was amazing the difference it made in my week. Declaring out loud those ugly flaws. I dare us to ask the Lord to deliver us from them, ask the Lord to catch them before they can ruin one grape. Before they can pounce on you at the first sign of any good fruit.
Deliver us, Lord. Let not one fox steal our joy, because YOU, God are so good to us.
In the words of a very wise Bible study teacher, Joy Cometh!
Amen.
Lindsey, thank you for sharing that…God has worked a bunch of things together this day to remind me of that truth…we get so caught up in the things that don’t matter…this week our BSF AIM was There is nothing more important than coming to Christ. Coupled with those verses in the section where that aim came from–Matthew 12:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Coupled with a “come apart” that was so pointless this morning–WHAT THE WORLD?. Combined with your post and then finally combined with the words from my new favorite Christmas song JOY by Selah…”Father in Heaven, You give us reason to see past the pain of today.” Go here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUgSLnnQpmo
if you have not heard that song. I LOVE IT!
Oh, how I praise Him for His persistence in sending a message that He knew needed to get down into the innermost places of my heart.
I just posted that verse for my Scripture Memory for December 1…Thank you!
Thanks for sharing Kimberly! I need Him to be persistent with me, too!
AMEN! Thank you for this!!!! Yes her voice is beautiful as well
Good word about foxes sister. Thanks! And also, apparently I’ve been living under a rock (okay, well, at least across the ocean;) and hadn’t heard of Audrey Assad but I like what I’m hearing… Thanks for this 🙂
Joy and joy today and for we have very great time in to experience the HOly Spirit to move among us and catch the foxes to not destroy the wine gardd of heaven among us ,thanks and bless and joy for the advents time ,keijo sweden
Thanks for sharing Audrey’s song! Just like Kimberly commented, I too needed to hear from God today. If it wasn’t for your blog, I wouldn’t have heard so clearly what He was already trying to get through to me. In a dark time right now as He conforms me to His death and needing to overcome the foxes! So need HIS help! The LORD used this to work within me to do what pleases HIM! Praying the LORD continue to make HIMSELF known to you in intimate ways!
My favorite thing I have ever read from you. Loved it!
Beth thank you so much for sharing these beautiful songs! They have blessed me beyond measure at a time when I need it! Blessings to you!
Thanks for sharing Audrey’s song…she is a beautiful writer…her songs minister to me in a deep way…..and oh thanks for the pecan pie….it was yummy…..bernadette
I have a blog and I wrote about this exact same verse in March of 2012, enjoy!
http://reedersreads.blogspot.com/2012/03/sword-sisters-5-for-our-sakes.html
Once again this blog blesses me! God surely lead me here a year ago and I have been hooked ever since. Thank you Lindsey! Yes, what a reminder and what an encouragement! Some of my foxes are anxiety, fear, worry, cyclical patterns, and the list could go on. But because of Jesus I have perfect love that casts out all fear, I have a lamp for my feet, and an all powerful, loving father!
I must admit that not only had I never heard of the song, I’d never heard of the artist. But…. thank you so much! I absolutely love it.
Thanks so much for sharing this! Great post! And thanks for clarifying the foxes in the vineyard reference too 🙂 Very powerful message! We’ve been watching this awesome preacher on TV named Rabbi Schneider (he’s a Messianic Jew), and he’s been teaching how the Song of Songs is really a picture of Christ as Solomon and us as his bride. It’s all referring to His love for us! I encourage you to check out his show. It’s called “Discovering the Jewish Jesus”. Really been an encouragement for me and my family! Praying for you all my dear siestas! Blessings!
Lindsee, this is one of my favorite entries that you wrote this year! You have such a beautiful gift and I’m certain as years go by, God will increase it. Thank you for faithfully writing alongside Beth and for giving your heart to young women.
Would you pray for me? A young lady has asked me to be her mentor and I pray that I can be diligent in prayer for her and that I’ll be a help as she develops a life sustaining relationship with Him. Any suggestions for touching her life are appreciated as well!
In Christ, your sister, Claudia
Claudia, much wisdom, insight and love you way as you mentor and come alongside this young lady. If she has asked you to do this, I have no doubt you are a might woman that she desires to imitate. May she imitate and reflect Christ more and more as you do so. Blessings to you!
What a wonderful song! Thank you so much for sharing this. I’ve been listening to it after my time with The Lord for days now. It caused me to realize how my thinking had shifted from remembering how much His love is for us. And that -has been chasing those foxes away!
Joyful Christmas to you!
Thank you for sharing. I tried to move on without making my own list of “foxes” to bring to the Lord, but once I did it was very freeing. Knowing they get in the way of our fruit bearing makes me want to rid myself of them and receive His forgiveness even more.
Lindsee,
I am always in awe when the Lord confirms His Word. You had no way of knowing that this exact scripture is what came to my mind on a recent walk. Everything you said is confirmation. Just want you to know. Thanks for being obedient.
Love in Christ,
Carol
Lindsee, Thank you for introducing me to this wonderful song and artist. I, too, fell in love with it on the first listen.
I know in every area of my heart that God has been good to me. He is good. But right now I just feel sad. My sister in law is dying of a brain tumor. She is only one year older than me. Much too young to die. She knows Jesus, so her eternal salvation is secure in Him. But even though I know He has been good to me and is good to me, I just can’t sing it. I made myself sing along anyway, because I fully believe it in my heart. Just sometimes life is hard!
This may not even make sense, but this post and song has meant a lot to me in the last week. Sometimes our foxes in the vineyard are beyond our control, but even so…God is good.
Thanks for living your life for Him and encouraging us to do the same.
Love, Mary Jane
Mary Jane, I know it doesn’t mean much, but I am so, so sorry about your sister in law. My heart hurts for you and your family. Sometimes when I can sing the songs and mean it, I just let the song sing over me. And I think that’s okay too. Praying for you and yours right this very minute that He would bring an exceeding amount of comfort to you all. Much love.
Thank you for responding, Lindsee. It meant a lot! Thank you for your prayers, too.
And that meant to say when I “can’t” sing the songs. Hope you understood what I meant. Blessings to you.
Totally understood. 🙂
From the moment I first heard Audrey sing Sparrow, I knew I had to support her. Such a beautiful clear voice who writes song with deeply touching messages.
Thank you for this post on song…it is keeping afloat during some hard family times. Bless you for your ministry to others.
Just wanted to say, I totally agree. Came to this blog after googling the ‘foxes in the vineyard’ as the song plays in my headphones – like you, I was sure there was a greater context to it that the song was referencing.
I’m also in love with this CD of Audrey Assad. I just wanted to mention for your readers that you can hear her perform many of her songs on youtube if you do enough digging. For me, the song on this album that hits home the hardest is “I shall not want” – it’s like every phrase was written for me and what I need to hear, even if I don’t always want to hear it, if that makes any sense!
Lindsee, heard this song last night at my sons Hip Hop gig (he’s 15, I’m not allowed to call it a recital even though there was also ballet).
I texted the line about foxes in the vineyard to two of my closest friends that are struggling in life right now and then I googled it last night and came acrossed this blog. Amazing writing and it has made it easier to explain it to the one friend who is new to this whole Christian walk. Thank you so much!!